35th Leonard A. Ford Lecutureship

The Department of Biochemistry, Chemistry, and Geology at Minnesota State University, Mankato will host the 35th Leonard A. Ford Lectureship on Wednesday, September 17, 2025, featuring Dr. Nick Riley, assistant professor of chemistry at the University of Washington.

Dr. Riley will present two lectures in Ostrander Auditorium, Centennial Student Union. The technical talk, “Tipping the Scales: How Mass Spectrometry Provides Insights into Health and Disease,” begins at 9:00 a.m. The general talk, “The Biological Language Embedded in Your Cells’ Sugar Coating,” will be held at 7:30 p.m.

Riley’s research uses advanced mass spectrometry and chemical glycobiology to study how cellular sugar coatings (the glycocalyx) influence health and disease, particularly cancer progression. His lectures will highlight the power of mass spectrometry to uncover disease mechanisms and explain how sugars on cell surfaces act as molecular “barcodes” guiding communication, immunity, and medical innovation.

Also check out other Health & Wellness events in Mankato.